With nearly 75,000 downloads and a growing roster of student and alumni entrepreneurs, The InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast has become Florida State University’s go-to platform for sharing the bold journeys and big ideas shaping the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (JMC).
Launched in November 2020, the podcast provides a platform for guests to share their entrepreneurial experiences and stories.
JMC Professor and host of the podcast Mark McNees understands what it takes to be successful when seeking out a venture, being the founder and CEO of well-known Tallahassee business RedEye Coffee.
Known as a “serial entrepreneur,” McNees has a passion for helping guests reach their business goals.
“I know the struggle; I know the sleepless nights, and I think because I’ve been there and shared that experience, there’s an automatic baseline trust,” McNees said of interviewing his podcast guests. “We’re talking about startups and I know the language. There’s an instant connection that I’ve found that has been really important.”
The podcast industry has boomed in recent years. At the heart of this worldwide spike in listenership is genuine storytelling. The InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast is no different, emphasizing the journey that these entrepreneurs go on when launching their product or business. Students and alumni who appear are not just from JMC; they hail from other parts of campus as well.
No matter who they are, they always have a story to tell.
“The goal of the podcast is twofold; it’s designed to give them a platform to tell their story with the credibility of FSU behind it,” McNees said. “It’s important for our university to be telling the story of what’s happening at FSU. It’s a win-win.”
The list of guests with powerful stories is endless. McNees recalls an interview he did with FSU’s International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team. Their work addressed a rare metabolic disorder called trimethylaminuria (TMAU), which causes a strong body odor released through sweat, breath and urine. They created a breathalyzer device that could guide a patient’s treatment by monitoring the level of trimethylamine (TMA), the molecule that causes the odor, in the breath.
“That is one of so many (interviews) that have been so interesting to me,” McNees said of the FSU iGEM team. “People who have TMAU are desperate for a cure, so it was remarkable to talk to the iGEM team. It became a mentoring session.”
Giving FSU student entrepreneurs and other business owners a platform to showcase their innovations is one of many perks of the podcast. McNees was initially given the idea for creating the platform after attending The InNOLEvation® Challenge – an annual new venture competition hosted by JMC for all students, regardless of major or academic level. Students compete for a share of up to $20,000 in prize money by developing an innovative business idea.
As time has passed since his podcast idea was born, McNees is proud of its gains and how it shapes FSU as a university focused on building entrepreneurs. He also believes the secret to its near five-year run has been creating an outlet that entrepreneurs want to be part of.
“I’ve been shocked at the reach that it’s had,” McNees added. “We’ve had students in Jim Moran College who applied because they want to be part of a college where things are happening as entrepreneurs. I think the secret is it has become a valuable storytelling tool for the college and FSU.”
“We’ve had students in Jim Moran College who applied because they want to be part of a college where things are happening as entrepreneurs. I think the secret is it has become a valuable storytelling tool for the college and FSU.”
– Mark McNees, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship
The InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast can be listened to on any major podcast platform and can be watched on its YouTube channel. If you are a current student or alumni entrepreneur, share your story on the podcast. Pick your in-person interview time here or your virtual interview time here.